Chapter 5

“From what I overheard, it sounded perfectly legit, but then people who run a scam try to be as believable as possible. I would incline to him having some criminal intent, but exactly what, I am unsure.”

“Who can tell me what we have in the bank for now, Fiona?”

“Hermione, I think, as the account is still in the company name, and she and Jemima were sharing the banking tasks.”

A quick chat with Hermione revealed that as Frances’ father had sold their old multi-story home and given them the net proceeds, plus the completed sale of their own company during the last couple of days, in total the family had loads of cash in the bank; so the complete cost of the boundary fencing was no problem. Reginald could pay the deposit right away if he wanted.

Reginald was about to get back on the tractor when he was called to the phone again. This call came from the Governor.

“Mr Robertson? My wife told me about your query about an order for fencing. I have quietly looked into it, and it is a legitimate business despite the oddities. One of our Admin staff wanted to set up a small business and was given permission to do so, for this is not uncommon. His only restriction is that the annual financial size of his business is limited, to allow others to start similar businesses in competition to him. We don’t want to see monopolies develop on Rehome to the detriment of our citizens.

That is our policy at present, aimed at encouraging more economic activity in the colony. My only surprise is his reticence in giving his full name, which I have ascertained is John Travers. It may be that he is trying to be careful not to overstep his stipulated financial boundaries. Your own land grant is quite large, to reflect your family size and your willingness to act as a think tank, as I recall, so yours would be a big order. He is perhaps being careful not to over-commit his business.”

“It is large, sir, and we thank you. Sandra Wilson had her own land as well, but she decided to join our family and linked her land to ours. That has made our boundaries even more extensive.”

“Lucky you, Mr Robertson.”

“Reginald, please, sir. My first name is a friendlier approach than the more formal Mr Robertson, so it is preferable for most of the people we know here.”

“Very well, Reginald. You made enquiries about cotton, and I have had messages from Frank Dempsey, asking us to ramp up the planting of cottonish, so that we can produce our own version of cotton and use it for future manufactures. It seems cotton can have many profitable uses as you surmised. Would you be interested in planting cottonish?”

“Governor, that was already in my thoughts, but I will be sure to plant least one field with that crop as soon as possible. I presume the prices for cottonish bolls will offer an adequate return?”

“I will discuss this with the farmers’ representatives and agree an equitable price for a clean crop, that everyone can benefit from in future as a guaranteed price level.”

“I am happy to leave it at that, Governor. You think then I should proceed with my fencing contract?”

“Certainly. Let me know if you have any unexpected thoughts about your supplier. It would interesting to hear what you might have to say. You and your amazing family have a reputation for getting to the nub of a problem and finding a solution.”

“My ladies have developed a sixth sense about devious dealings, sir. I am sure they will let me know what they think. My wives always tell me what they think!”

“I have the same experience with my wives. That is why I got them appointed to jobs they now do: they are sharp cookies and I thought they should apply their smarts to helping the colony. It has worked.”

“Best of luck, Governor. Farewell,” concluded Reginald with a laugh.

The tall Prudence came into view, carrying her baby. She seemed to enjoy offering her love, and a breast, to her little Derek as much as she could; she was seldom seen without her infant. “Reg, the girls want you to come see the next room.”

“Which room, darling?”

“The bedroom they are decorating, silly.”

“Oh, of course. My mind was distracted by other concerns. I’ll come right away; lead me to it.”

He was met at the door of the bedroom by Erika, who greeted him with a kiss. “Have a look, Reg. Didn’t they do well?”

Reginald walked inside and was astonished at the transformation. Each pair of opposite walls was a different colour, the window frames were finished in a third colour, and the ceiling was a pale yellow that blended in with the other colours. The overall effect was dazzling, yet the pastel wall shades made it all seem comfortable. Erika apologised, “We have still to make the window curtains, but then it will be finished and ready for the furniture to go back in.”

“A beautiful result, girls. I am astonished at how well you have done; very professional looking. How long for the paint to dry, Erika?”

“About twelve hours, depending on how much ventilation the room gets. I would leave it for a day to make certain.”

“You home decorators are managing to complete a room in less than a day, it seems to me. That is good going, my loves. I hope you are not neglecting your children.”

He was told emphatically, “That is Sandra’s job, Reg. She calls us when our babies are hungry.”

Erika explained, “The kitchen was done first, but that took a bit longer, as we had more preparatory taping round power sockets, water pipes, and such obstacles, and the higher-level windows. The bedrooms only have a couple of double sockets and a standard window, so these are easier to work round.”

“You don’t need my manly presence, then?”

“Reg, we prefer to see you doing your manly farmer job out there in the fields and garden; things we can’t do for now. You can’t have babies and farm labourers at the same time, my love.”

“Erika, I just luuuuve my babies; I do.”

“Yes, selectively. We notice you love them until a dirty bottom is calling to be cleaned!”

Reginald grinned. “It is a wise man who knows his limitations!” he declared. “I know mine.”

His phone rang, and he answered, “Robertson residence.”

“Is that Reginald Robertson?”

“It is. What can I do for you?”

“My name is George Georgeson ... I know; blame my parents, not me,” he said with a sigh. “I have the neighbouring farm to you, and heard you were new here. I was thinking of visiting to see what each of us proposes in the way of crops. If we both intend to plant the same crop, we might be able to place a bulk order for seeds on behalf of both farms to get a better deal, and it would also hopefully be one delivery charge.”

“Very wise of you, George. I am sure we can do something like that. You would be very welcome to call. My ladies have decorated the kitchen, so we would be able to offer refreshments if you visit. Would you be able to bring your wife to meet my wives?”

Georgeson hesitated before saying, “I have two wives, but one has a year-old baby, so the trip on foot might be arduous for her.”

Reg was surprised. “Do you not have mountain bikes for getting around, George? We bought bikes as each of my wives has a nursing baby. A baby carrier on a bike solves many problems.”

“Oh. We didn’t think there were reasonable tracks for cycling yet, but we have been here for six months, so that may have changed.”

“Certainly changed as far as we are concerned, George. The house builders had to make a track of sorts for getting their equipment to our site, so there is a way from the edge of the city to here. Your builders must have put a track for themselves to your farmhouse but that is not a direct link to us. It would mean a roundabout trip in towards the city and back out, unless we can get them to make a track we could both use and both share in the cost. They used a small dozer-type machine to make our track fairly level for them and us, though it is just compressed soil and gravel. It doesn’t take long to install a track, so I would be quite happy to pay my bit; and a bit more if you are strapped for cash.”

“By God! There was no sign of such machines when we had our house built. Things must be improving fast!”

“Looks like it, George. I was told that the dozer is powered by a miniature nuclear motor designed by our alien friends.”

“A nuclear-powered machine? I was told that the buses in the city astonishingly had nuclear engines, but I didn’t know it had extended to other machines. I will pay my share to make such a track, for the girls get lonely for female friends.”

Reg told him, “The Personalia are pushing to use nuclear motors for everything possible. They don’t want to see a polluting oil and gas industry here. These space guys have a long-term view of the future; that’s why they prevent any Earth bugs being imported. That means no Earth animals and plants except as eggs and seeds that can be irradiated to kill bugs.”
“But what about human beings? Don’t we all have bugs of all kinds in and on our bodies?

“Sure we do. A little bird told me that when you step into one of their airlocks you get irradiated with ultra-violet, and that the internal ship air is loaded with nanites that kill off any surviving bugs on the surface of your body. Other nanites enter via your lungs and start clearing out your internal organs, except for useful microbes in your gut and elsewhere that the body uses for its benefit.”

“Damn! Nobody told me that when we arrived.”

“I think that at first they kept it secret in case immigrants got worried; but now the Governor is a bit more relaxed about it, as he can point to the fact that there are no adverse effects.”

“He is your ‘little bird’?”

“Yes. I suppose that is obvious now. Maybe we got more information than the average settler. It seems we were headhunted, as me and my wives are all university students and ran our own specialised business for a while. The Governor is hoping we will do something similar for Rehome; he is looking for us to produce ideas, for example, for new industries. I am not so sure I am up to that challenge, but perhaps my ladies will come up with suggestions of their own.”

George displayed interest. “What did you do, in your business back on Earth?

“Sort of a commercial investigation company, saving businesses and large organisations a lot of money by discovering criminal activities, sheer staff incompetency, or poor business practices. It might be a combination of all three! We didn’t care what was the cause, as long as we could uncover it and enable them to save money. We charged a fee for our work, but no fee if we failed to save them less than a stated minimum. My girls applied their learning to great effect, and we were quite successful in what we did. Our clients liked us enough that we got recommended to other possible clients and that gave us more business.”

“Was that not very time-intensive, all your efforts in helping them save money?”

“Not quite what you might think, George. We researched and uncovered the causes of their hidden losses, and showed them what needed to be done to save money, but then it was up to them to follow through with the essential actions which we told them was needed. We did our bit by our research, then they had to do their bit. It worked out well for them, as they could publicly declare that they had managed to solve their financial problems, and they could collect the kudos as a result. We just took our fees and departed; we were not too proud to simply make money for our company; that was what we were there for!”

George chuckled. “A true entrepreneur, that’s you. I shouldn’t think you would get much business here; too new to develop a crime scene.”

“I think the Governor believes the same. That is why he wanted to divert our activities toward colony economic improvements. We’ll see, George. Anyway, if you can find your way over here, you and your family will be welcome. Our freezers are full, as we have many long months before we can eat our own produce.”

“Thanks, Reginald.” And they finished their call.

After they had concluded this call, Reginald let his wives know that sometime their neighbour would be calling. His name was George Georgeson. This got Reginald a glare from Frances.

“Is he single, Reg?”

“No; not from what he said.”

“Then tell us about his wife or wives, dear: their names and those of their children if any.”

“Oops! I forgot to ask, Frances. Sorry about that, my love.”

“Men! You cannot depend on them to establish the important facts about people such as close neighbours. I will phone him back and speak to his significant other. Did he give you his contact data?”

“No, but the online directory is easy to use; just input his name and city two.”

“Well, if it is as easy as you say, you can do it for me, and get him to put his lady on the phone for me to chat with.”

“Yes, dear.”

Reg did so, and George answered.

“George, it is Reginald Robertson. My wife Frances has given me a rocket for not asking about your family details. Do you mind putting your wife on the phone, so that they can do the women talk about such important facts?”

“Gladly, Reginald. I got the same complaint and a similar instruction. I was about to give you a call back. I’ll put my Gladys on the line for your Frances to talk to.”

Reginald gestured to Frances. “Here you are, darling. Gladys Georgeson for you.”

She took the phone, giving Reg a kiss on the cheek to show he was forgiven.

“Hello. Is that Gladys? I am Frances Robertson, number one wife to Reginald ... Oh, you are? Just the two of you wives? Reginald has to put up with a large pack of us wives ... Oh, eight of us, I think; then Sandra joined us recently, so that makes it nine. She was our babysitter, but wanted to upgrade to wife after we got here. Sorry, I am inclined to ramble on a bit, Gladys. We tend to think in terms of names, not numbers; that is why I had to think about how many ... Yes, I know, but it was not his fault; we decided to take him on, and the poor darling didn’t quite realise what was happening, until he had been fucked by all three of us; his original wives. He was an only child, with no experience of girls until we showed him what was what about interactions between boys and girls.

Mind you, the first three of us were almost on the shelf, as we aren’t blessed with pretty faces. No-one wanted to date us; so we were rejects in the romance stakes, but with Reg as a neglected loner in life, needing our help to cope with society, we fitted together quite comfortably. We saw him primarily as a tutor for us to boost our academic performance, but it soon changed when we saw what we had: a project to work on.